White Wings Read online

  “Well, lucky I was partnered with you, then,” she said, trying to smile. She wished she was partnered with Savannah. That she was still alive.

  “I’ll print it out, and then I’ll go, okay?” he said, pressing print on the screen.

  Obviously, he had noticed me and Savannah always handing in our assignments late. Didn’t wanna ruin his A+ record, Millie thought to herself.

  With a thank-you, a wave, and a smile, Jonathan was gone. Millie was all by herself again. She had enjoyed Jonathan’s company, especially since basically no one else was talking to her. Her parents hadn’t even called yet. She appreciated his non-prying eyes. He didn’t ask any questions about the incident. It was refreshing.

  * * * * *

  For the next two weeks, Millie was depressed. Benjamin was still not talking to her. She couldn’t be bothered dealing with more drama, so she just let it go, but her thoughts were always on him. Her parents had finally called for a five-minute chat. The only good thing that had happened was cheerful smiles from Miss Sutherland and Jonathan. Lonely days at school. Lonely days at home. Millie was not enjoying life. Every time she looked in the mirror, her scar reminded her of her friends and how alone she was.

  Lying on her bed, she rolled over to turn off her bedside lamp, but a photo of her friends smiling caught her attention. Millie picked up the photo frame and traced all of their faces. Their smiles made her smile, but then her eyes started to fill with tears—again. We were an odd bunch of friends, Millie thought. The group looked like a hippy/surfy/punky group, but they somehow all got along. They all loved each other, had fun with each other. Millie and Savannah were always the centre of attention, even if they didn’t ask for it. Their group was the most talked about group in the whole school. They always laughed about how popular they were. They didn’t want to be the 'popular' group, but they were. There was no sign of snobbiness in any of them.

  Millie put down the photo and stared at it until her eyes grew heavy. She wanted to keep looking at the smiles of her friends, but she couldn’t fight her sleepiness. Her tired eyes closed and she fell asleep.

  * * * * *

  Savannah screamed. Justin and Millie looked at each other in fear. They ran even faster. Savannah was kneeling over Tom. His eyes were as black as the thick woods around them.

  “I don’t know what happened,” Savannah said, trying to wake him up.

  Millie snapped out of the shock she’d been in over seeing Luke’s body. She had to help Savannah.

  “We have to keep moving,” Henry said, looking at Justin. Millie grabbed Savannah’s arm, and without any arguing, Savannah hopped up from the ground. She grabbed onto Millie’s hand and nodded, and they started running, with Henry and Justin close behind.

  After a while, Millie realised that she couldn’t hear running footsteps behind her. She stopped running and turned around. Henry and Justin weren’t running behind them. They had disappeared.

  “Hide behind the tree,” Millie said to Savannah. Savannah ran over to the tree with a pale face. Her eyes grew wider as she watched Millie run back to find Henry and Justin.

  All of a sudden, the tree next to Millie caught on fire. It lit the thick forest with light. Millie let out a gasp. She wasn’t watching where she was running and tripped over something. Her eyes opened and she saw that she was lying on top of Justin, his eyes as black as his hair. With a scream, Millie jumped up. Justin was motionless--he was dead. Millie started backing up slowly, realising that she had to get out of there as quickly as she could.

  She looked up and saw Henry lying on the ground behind Justin. Her legs automatically ran over to him, and her knees skidded on the ground as her hand lifted up his head. He was dead. His eyes were black, just like Tom’s and Justin’s had been. Tears streamed down her face.

  Though her body was telling her to give up, she hopped up and ran as fast as she could. Her hand grabbed Savannah’s and they ran as fast as their legs would go.

  * * * * *

  Millie woke up. She was breathing heavily, and a thin layer of sweat was all over her body. She wiped her forehead. More of her memory had come back. Before she could think about it anymore, her alarm went off.

  While walking to school, Millie thought about all of her friends. Most of her memory had come back. She had seen all of her friends dead, their bodies lifeless. Most of their eyes had been black, except Luke’s. Millie was so confused. Who had killed my friends? Why were their eyes black or white? Where did the fire come from?

  Millie came to the front of her school. She made her mind stop thinking of her friends and instead focus on what was in front of her. She studied the school and noticed that the graffiti had finally been taken off the school’s brick sign that said Phoenix High School. Her eyes stared at all the students. There were people of many different cultures and ethnicities at her school. Most of her school was white American; however, there were still many Mexicans, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos. There was also a small group of Asians who kept to themselves. Millie liked the diversity at her school. Every person added something special to the community.

  Millie walked through the school, looking at everyone, looking at all of the groups. She found it fascinating. She was glad to think about something else instead of her dead friends or Benjamin. Millie was happy as well that all the whispering and the pointing had stopped. Occasionally, a glare would come her way, but she was used to it by now.

  In her classes, she still felt lonely and sad. Millie wanted to do something to cheer herself up. Her mind thought and thought until she came up with the one thing that had always made her happy: a party.

  Four

  The Party

  Millie ripped out a page from her book and scribbled on it.

  Party at Millie’s House on Saturday

  Start at 7:00 p.m.

  Soft drinks provided. Some beer also.

  Get there early to get the free beer!

  Millie scrunched up the piece of paper and dropped it on the desk behind her. A Latino girl named Isabel was sitting there. She flicked her neck-length short brown hair and picked up the scrunched piece of paper with her freshly manicured fingers. She un-scrunched it and raised an eyebrow. Isabel scrunched up the piece again and passed it behind her. Her hand reached for her phone in her pocket and she started texting. Before the end of the class, every student had read the paper and seemed to be happy about it.

  Millie walked into the next classroom and realised Benjamin wasn’t there. She pondered where he was but quickly forgot about it when she noticed that Jonathan was handing in their assignment. Millie was happy that he had remembered to bring it; she had forgotten all about it. The note went around this class as well. Jonathan gave Millie the thumbs-up. Even though she received some smiles and people asking where she lived, she was worried that no one was going to show. Some people still thought she had killed all of her friends. Her eyes looked to where Benjamin would have been sitting. She desperately wanted to look into his eyes where it was so calming. She wanted to touch him so a jolt could go through her body--a jolt of warmth and safety. She looked away from the desk and buried her head into her arms.

  * * * * *

  On Saturday, Millie went out and bought some snacks and soft drinks, and then used her flirtatious side to get a stranger to buy her some beer. She drove her mum’s small, flashy red car back home and started to get ready. The chips, chocolate, and lollies were placed in bowls, with dips next to them. The coolers were full of ice, soft drinks, and beer. Her iPod was plugged into the speakers and was already playing.

  Millie hopped out of the shower and dried her hair. She put on a black, short, tight dress that showed off her chest. She put makeup on her face, heavily applying foundation over her scar. After that, she put some black hoops in her ears, and her feet slid into some black high heels. Her smile lit up the mirror as she examined herself.

  “Perfect,” she said.

  The doorbell rang. Millie ran downstairs
and opened it to find Jonathan standing there. He was wearing a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His tight fitted jeans were black. His shoes were formal-like and black as well.

  “Wow, you look great,” Millie said in surprise. He looked so different.

  “Thanks,” he said, walking in her house. “Am I the first one?”

  “Yeah,” Millie said. A wave of horror went over her. What would happen if Jonathan was it?

  A few hours later, the party was pumping and a look of relief showed on Millie’s face. So many people had showed up. All the free beer was gone, but one boy’s brother worked at a liquor store and so he was able to bring loads more. Everyone cheered when he came in the door with the cases of beer. Some of them also stole their parents’ liquor supply as well. There was a mini bonfire out the back, and the spa was overflowing as more and more people tried to get in.

  Millie talked to a couple of kids from her classes. Politely, no one asked about the incident. She was so glad. Isabel waved her over. She was wearing a gorgeous strapless orange dress with platform high heels. Her natural brown skin looked succulent against the orange colour.

  “Hi,” Millie said, hugging her.

  “Hey, great party,” she said, drinking some beer.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty rockin’,” Millie said, taking a sip of the cocktail she had made.

  “The music is so good. You have to give me your playlist.”

  “Yeah, sure thing,” Millie said with a smile.

  She was so happy. People were talking to her, not pointing at her. She felt like she had made some more close friends, but deep down inside, she knew something was missing. Her true friends. She missed how she and Savannah used to tear up the dance floor. How Tom used to go around the whole party, talking to girls, trying to get a hook-up. How Henry always used to get the alcohol because he looked so much older than his actual age. How Justin always cleaned up when he saw a spilled bottle of beer or a smashed glass. How all the girls would crowd around Luke like he was some kind of superstar. Millie became sad again. She hated how easily she could get sad.

  “Oh, sorry, my phone’s ringing.” Isabel answered the phone. “I’m gonna go outside,” she said, pointing.

  Millie mouthed, “Okay,” and waved. She then downed her cocktail and found a table doing shots. She sat down and started throwing back shots in an effort to forget about her dead friends.

  Millie danced but became dizzy. She took herself out of the crowd and sat down on the couch.

  “Hot?” a guy asked her.

  “Yeah,” Millie replied, fanning her face with her hand.

  He held out his beer and Millie took a couple of sips to cool her down. “Thanks,” she said with a smile.

  “No prob,” the guy said with a grin. “I’m David, by the way. I’m in the year below you.”

  He had short, light brown hair. He was wearing black pants and a long, black shirt that had been scrunched up to his elbows. His sun-kissed skin was to die for.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen you around school,” Millie said, still fanning her face. She could feel the sweat and she worried about her makeup.

  “You look fine,” David said, as if he knew what she was thinking.

  “Oh, thanks, and by the way, I’m Millie, but I suppose you already knew that.”

  “Yeah, I did.” He smiled.

  Millie was glad he didn’t start asking questions. They sat there in silence for a few minutes. David kept on looking at Millie, which flattered her.

  “You know you’re pretty hot,” he said, stroking Millie’s arm.

  “Thanks,” Millie responded. “Oh, I need a drink.” She struggled to get up.

  David pulled her back down. “Have mine.” He handed her his beer.

  “Thanks,” Millie downed his beer.

  “Easy girl,” he said, grabbing Millie’s hand.

  “I’m thirsty and hot,” Millie said, looking at her hand.

  David sat upright. His other hand traced an imaginary line from her neck to her cleavage. “Yeah, you feel hot,” he said into her ear.

  A tingling sensation went through her whole body. It felt nice that a man was touching her. It felt good that somebody wanted her. She closed her eyes as he blew cold air on her neck. It felt too good. Her hand tightened around his, and his lips kissed her neck multiple times. He stroked her arm as she squeezed his hand tighter. Millie started to breathe heavier and heavier, and her cheeks flushed a bright red. His lips made their way to her cheek. They were damp from drinking, but the wetness soothed her skin from a bright red to a pink. David clenched Millie’s face with one hand and turned her face towards him. She opened her eyes. His deep brown eyes were staring into hers. His face was leaning in for a kiss.

  “Hey, David,” a guy said, standing in front of them. Millie pulled away and then so did David.

  “Are you kidding me, Miles?” David yelled at him, but it seemed he was talking normally because the music was so loud.

  “I saw you without a beer and thought I’d bring you one over,” the other kid said with a smile.

  “I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” Millie said, hopping up from the couch.

  Her head became dizzy and she rubbed her temples until her vision was back to normal.

  “Well, come back,” David said.

  Millie smiled and staggered away. She looked back and saw that David was shaking Miles’ neck and Miles was laughing.

  When she came out of the bathroom, she went outside for some fresh air. She sat down on a chair. A random person gave her a drink as if it was weird to find a person without a drink in their hands. The person disappeared before Millie could thank them. She opened up the beer and started drinking it. Her mind wandered onto David. She couldn’t believe she nearly kissed a guy she barely knew. She had never done that before. She always wanted to know a guy before she kissed him.

  “I’m just too drunk to even care,” Millie said out loud, chugging the rest of the drink down.

  Her arms pushed her out of the chair. She stood in one spot for a while until her balance returned. Then Millie went inside and saw that David was still waiting for her. His touch felt so nice on her skin; his kisses sent her body crazy. Her drunken state was telling her to go back and make out with him, but deep down inside her body was telling her not to. She turned away from him, and her feet started to walk. It took all of her strength to do this. She felt bad, but she didn’t want to wake up in the morning with David lying next to her in bed. A one-night stand didn’t appeal to Millie at all, especially with a guy she didn’t even know. She didn’t want her first time having sex to be a mistake.

  Millie went to the kitchen and felt dizzy again. She tripped over her own high heel and lost her balance. She was falling to the ground, until someone caught her. Millie looked up and saw that it was Benjamin.

  “You okay?” Benjamin said with a worried face. He was wearing a light blue short-sleeve top that cuffed his muscles. His dark blue jeans were loose and his black belt matched his black shoes.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Millie said, rubbing her forehead.

  “Obviously, you’re not. I’m taking you to your room.”

  “I beg your pardon? Let me go,” Millie said whilst Benjamin stood her back up.

  “I’m taking you to your bedroom.”

  “Don’t order me around,” Millie protested.

  Her head became dizzy and she lost her balance again. Her hands grabbed onto the kitchen counter. Benjamin grabbed her waist.

  “Maybe I should lie down for a couple of minutes,” Millie agreed.

  Benjamin put one of Millie’s arms around him. He gently placed his arm around her waist and steadied her. He grabbed onto her other hand to balance her. There it was--the jolt of warmth went through her body. Millie looked into his striking eyes, and Benjamin looked back. They were mesmerising. Millie felt safe in his arms, almost like she belonged there. Benjamin looked away and they started walking up the stairs. It felt like Millie wasn
’t even touching the ground. It was as if Benjamin was holding her up and taking all of her weight.

  Benjamin opened up Millie’s bedroom door. There was a couple on her bed, making out.

  “Get out!” Millie yelled at them.

  They both hopped off the bed. The boy banged onto her bedside table and the photo frame with Millie and her friends fell to the ground and smashed. The girl ran out of the room. The boy seemed to run faster after he heard the smash, even with his fly undone. Millie leapt out of Benjamin’s arm and staggered to the smashed photo frame. She knelt on her knees and picked it up. Glass poured onto the floor. Her eyes started to tear. Benjamin closed the bedroom door and went over to Millie.

  As Millie wiped the front of the photo, Benjamin said, “Careful, don’t cut yourself.” Just as he said this, Millie cut her finger on a sharp edge of glass that hadn’t fallen off the photo frame yet.

  “Ouch,” she yelped.

  “What did I just say?” Benjamin reached for a tissue on her bedside table. He grabbed her hand and wrapped the tissue tightly around her finger. He gripped her finger firmly to stop the bleeding.

  “Sorry,” Millie said. Tears started streaming down her face.

  “Don’t cry. It’s just a tiny cut,” Benjamin said, trying to comfort her.

  “I’m not crying over that, although it does sting a little.” She looked at Benjamin.

  He tightened his hand around her finger, and the cut suddenly felt better. The stinging had gone. Another longer jolt of warmth went through her body. Millie closed her eyes to soak it in.

  “You’re crying about the people in the photograph?” Benjamin asked.

  As Millie opened her eyes, another tear came out. With his free hand, Benjamin wiped away the tear from her cheek. Millie looked into his eyes. They seemed concerned. His finger on her cheek sent a spark though her. She closed her eyes again, put down the picture, and grabbed his hand. She placed his whole hand on her cheek. His touch made her whole body feel relaxed; it made her body feel something that she had never felt before. The feeling was incredible. She opened her eyes and realised that Benjamin’s face had come closer to her.